The ice sheet of Greenland lost about 80 gigatons of ice from Summer 2023 to Summer 2024, scientists of the National Geological Research of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) announced in a press release on 9 September.
The melting of the Greenland ice has been ongoing for 28 years in row. Despite the staggering numbers, 80 gigatons a year apparently equals 2 million to 2.5 million litres of melting water per second, the past year went better than suspected. Large amounts of fresh snow dampened the melting from the surface, the researchers say.
More icebergs
However, GEUS’ Chief Consultant Andreas P. Ahlstrøm is not optimistic. “More icebergs than usual have calved from the glaciers that flow into the fjords. So it ends up in a negative account for the ice overall. (It) is certainly worrying,” he says.
Snow becomes rain
This year’s Greenland ice melting alone contributes to 0.2 millimetre increase of global sea levels, adding up to 15.9 millimetre since 1986. With global temperatures on the rise, Ahlstrøm and other scientists are worried that snowfall becomes rainfall on Greenland. That could in turn accelerate the melting further. | © 2024 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured photo: the Greenland ice sheet in 2007 (Photo: Hannes Grobe (CC))